“Wildflowers are kind of like single moms.”

Those words from my 16-year-old daughter caught me off guard as we were driving.

“Really?” I asked, turning to look at her. “How so?”

“Because they grow in hard places.” She replied with a smile.

Wow.

It’s not just single moms who know the struggles we face – our children, as much as we may try to protect them, know it all too well.

And yet, she recognizes the beauty! Wildflowers are beautiful, and my daughter has learned that sometimes, beautiful things can grow out of the struggle.

Wildflowers grow off the beaten path, between a rock and a hard place, in dry, forgotten soil – places no one expects beauty to survive.

And yet, they do more than survive.

They thrive.

Not because the soil is good, but because their Creator is.

My fellow single moms – we are wildflowers.  

We grow in places others overlook — through heartbreak, weariness, and quiet prayers whispered in the dark. We carry more than we thought we could, and yet, by God’s grace, we rise.  Not because we’re always strong – but because He is.

Like wildflowers, we bloom in unexpected places.

We are like the Poppy – rising from broken ground and blooming because we have the courage to rise after devastation. We have learned that true resilience isn’t about avoiding pain — it’s about letting God redeem it.

We are like the Daisy – enduring through harsh seasons, poor soil, and yet we persist with gentleness. Staying hopeful without hardening, finding reasons to bloom, even when the ground feels barren.

We are like the Sunflower – anchoring deep roots and standing strong against the storms. Turning our face toward the sun, following its path across the sky. Even on cloudy days, we lean toward where the light should be — a quiet act of faith and hope.

Through it all, we teach our children something wildflowers know well:

Life may not always be easy, but it can still be beautiful.

Growth is possible even in the hardest ground.

And hope doesn’t need perfect conditions to bloom.

We are wildflowers.

Rooted in grace, watered by tears, and sustained by the hand of a loving God. Even in the hardest ground, He makes beauty rise. We are not forgotten. We are chosen. And we are blooming right where He planted us.

“Wildflowers are like single moms; they grow in hard places.”

The post Wildflowers appeared first on MOMS Canada.

Here are her top tips including “Do’s and Don’ts” divided into age categories.

0 – 5 Years

“For babies and toddlers, there is NOTHING helpful, educational, or beneficial about screens, even though there is so much being marketed as education for babies. Young children learn in relationship with human beings, they do not learn from a device.” – Dr. Susan Linn

Top doctors say absolutely no screens under 2 years old. According to top medical experts, this age needs face-to-face interaction for healthy brain development.

As you know moms, once you start giving screens it is hard to take them back. Delay as long as possible!

If you choose to allow screens under 5, try to avoid interactive devices (touch screens). DVD/movies are best as it moves slower and is less addictive.

Classic cartoons or shows are much better than newer shows such as Cocomelon. New graphics/shows tend to be too fast and stimulating and can shorten your child’s attention span, while also giving them short bursts of dopamine that the brain cannot handle.

Don’t give screens in the car, while running errands, or when attending events such as sibling’s sports games. Allow your child to observe and interact with the world around them.

Beware of screen dependency!

“For every hour a day a child under 3 consumes media, they increase their risk of ADHD by the age of 7 by 10%.” (Dr. Carl Marci, Scrolling to Death Podcast)

Do give your child toys or even Tupperware! Recycle toys (putting some away for a while and bringing them back). Playdates are great, outside time is invaluable, take turns babysitting other kids to give moms a break, and ask for help! You cannot do this alone.

“During 0 – 5 years, the maximum amount of brain development occurs in a life time. What makes the brain function is the connections between neurons. These connections are formed by loving responsive relationships with adults. When babies cry and you respond, this builds circuitry in the brain. Think of it like a tennis game. Your child gives you hundreds of cues in a day (a serve) when you respond (return the serve), this it becomes the foundation for their brain to develop! The speed at which these neuro-connections are being built are 1 MILLION per second! This is why 0 – 5 is the worst time to put them in front of a screen. You don’t want screens shaping their brains for life.” –  Dr. Madhu Rathore, @thescreenfreeparent

6 – 14 Years

Our youth are facing an unprecedented mental health epidemic. Across Western, English-speaking countries we have seen a “hockey stick rise” in depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide attempts, and suicide.

This rise began right around 2010 – 2011 the years most youth got Instagram and Snapchat. Studies show these powerful apps CAUSE depression and anxiety in youth, especially in girls. (The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt)

Do everything in your power to keep children off social media. Make it a family rule. Social media/Apps are highly addictive, and will feed your children with harmful content. Children can also be exposed to pornography, sexual content, drug dealers, and predators!

Find other ways for your kids to communicate with friends. It can be done. Check out https://www.waituntil8th.org/

Social scientists say the two most critical developmental stages for youth are when kids transition from elementary school to high school and when they move out of the house. There is SO MUCH going on hormonally and physiologically during these two big moves, they don’t need the added pressure from social media.

 “The most dangerous place for a child right now is alone in their room with a smart device.” FBI Agent, Save the Kids Podcast

Find ways to get your kids together with other kids. I know it’s more work, it’s messy, inconvenient but social interaction is what they need to function in the real world someday.

IF they need a device, look at flip phones! They are coming back. They don’t need the internet.

BEFORE children start school and ride the school bus, start the conversations with them about what to do when they see images of a naked body on a device (sadly it’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when). Many children first see pornography on the school bus on another child’s device, or at recess. Prepare yourself and them for what to do. I recommend these books to help: https://www.defendyoungminds.com/books

Video Games. Today’s games are HIGHLY ADDICTIVE! Be careful parents. You will lose your children to the virtual world. Kids on the autism spectrum are most at risk.

 Watch this powerful short video on how this family dealt with their autistic child’s gaming addiction: www.instagram.com/tv/CEAG7aAF1Rn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

More info on gaming addiction here: https://gamequitters.com/

15+ Years

Ahhhh now the stakes are higher!

The adolescent brain is super curious, spontaneous, quick to act, slow to think, does not consider consequences, is fuelled by emotion, and does not have brakes (that’s the front part of the brain, which doesn’t finish developing until early-20s for girls, mid-20s for boys).

Video game companies, social media companies, and pornography companies know this about the teen brain and they create content to get them addicted. They know if they can hook them now, they may have loyal customers for life. That’s how these companies think. Below are my tips for helping teens have healthy tech habits:

1. You cannot expect healthy teen tech habits overnight if you haven’t been developing and modeling this during their childhood. The teen battle starts under 5. What role does tech play in your family? Is it at the centre? Do you role model healthy living? Do you encourage your kids to be active and adventurous? Delay smart devices until high school, no social media until 16. Pursue adventure, time together, meals around the table, and screen-free activities.

2. Is your child ready for a device? Are they responsible with their chores? Do they demonstrate self-control? Do they talk to you when they have a problem? Can they focus on a task, and get homework done?

Now, if you choose to give a device, consider saying, “This is mine. I own it, I pay the bills, you can use it while you live in my house, but it goes in my room every night”. If you don’t have a good relationship, this will be hard to establish. Focus on your relationship. Pursue your teen. Be available.

3. No screens in the bedroom ever. Especially at night. Fight for sleep. Sleep deprivation looks like depression and ADHD. Teens make bad decisions at night. Most suicides due to sextortion, bullying, or ordering drugs on Snapchat (laced with fentanyl) happen at night.

Keep phones/devices in open spaces with the sound on.

4. Know what they are on. Have their passwords. Check their phone randomly. Read their chats, ask questions, talk openly and regularly. Track their moods, if something is off, don’t let it go. Pursue them. Talk to them. Don’t freak out. Encourage them to always tell you everything. Turn off all chats with strangers on games and apps where possible.

5. Great app & game review here: www.protectyoungeyes.com/apps

6. How-To Guide on parent controls: www.protectyoungeyes.com/parental-controls-everydigital-device

7. Talk about pornography. What it is (violence against women, not intimacy, not sex), how it will hurt them (addictive, will desensitize them to violence), what to do when they see it, the dangers of clicking on it on social media (you will get fed more), what your family values are. If you aren’t sure how to have these talks check out www.parents.culturereframed.org.

8. No screens in the classroom or when doing homework. Studies show even if it’s in your pocket or bag at your feet it is highly distracting.

9. Encourage them to spend face-to-face time with real people. Go out of your way to find people they want to be with and make it happen, don’t let them become a recluse. This is the loneliest generation. They are losing social skills which is making the virtual world more appealing however, we are built for connections, and the virtual world will never love us back!

10. Tell your kids “BUT IF YOU DO…” they can come tell you anything and you promise NOT TO FREAK OUT! Practice your reaction when they tell you something horrific. You are going to take a deep breath and thank them for telling you. Tell them you admire their courage for coming to you. Then ask a lot of questions such as: “Tell me more, how did it make you feel, what do you think you should do, what do you need from me?”

Note from Naomi

Hi Friends! I am Naomi Holland, the owner and founder of Redeemed with Purpose – an ethical jewelry brand using its platform to raise funds and awareness to fight sexual exploitation and trafficking.

If you found this information helpful, please follow me on social media @redeemedwithpurpose or sign up for my newsletters at www.redeemedwithpurpose.com.

I am so passionate about these topics and would be happy to do a presentation at your school, group, or church in Alberta. I love speaking to any age about online safety. You can find more info on my website.

I know this journey is daunting parents, the earlier you give your kids access to the internet the earlier you must fight this battle. Delay is the way and if you need to, hit the pause button. Do some research (I have a resource list on my website), create a plan, and talk with your children. You could say something like:

“You know, I think I made a mistake, and because it is my job to keep you safe, I need to make some changes around your screen use.”

They don’t have to like it, they probably also don’t like vegetables, going to the dentist, school, or sleep either but we make them do it because it’s good for them.

Stick to your guns. You may need to do a full tech detox. Know that the longer you stick it out, their brains will rewire, and they will develop healthier habits!

You know what your kids need. You know if their personalities are changing, and they are becoming unpleasant. Fight to get your real kids back! I believe in you!

Hugs, Naomi

Note from MOMS Canada

In addition to the great resources Naomi highlighted, we have some recommendations as well:

Google Family Link  – excellent FREE app to control screen time, set app and daily limits, and create a sleep (shutdown) schedule.

www.pluggedin.com – excellent FREE way to see if content is appropriate for movies, TV, music, games, books, YouTube, and more.

www.commonsensemedia.org – similar to Plugged In, however you get limited free checks per month.

MOMS Canada is continually working to update our resource page, including a section for online/digital safety. You can find that section here.

MOMS Canada is continually working to update our resource page, including a section for online/digital safety. You can find that section here.

The post Screen Time Safety appeared first on MOMS Canada.

Hope.

It sounds pretty, and it even looks cute when you see it in fancy cursive on home décor.

I admit that the images that usually come to mind are beautiful too: a peaceful sunset, a newly hatched chick under her mother’s wing, a fawn in a dewy field in a serene meadow.

But I’ve learned that “hope” doesn’t always look pretty when you need it the most.

Life is hard. Broken relationships are hard. Separation is hard. Divorce is hard. Loneliness is hard. Death is hard. Raising kids is hard. Raising teens is hard. Finding hope is hard.

Where do you find hope when you feel like you’re drowning?

Like many of you, I’ve been through times and circumstances that I thought would certainly pull me under.

And yet, during one of the hardest times of my life, God gave me a vision of what hope looks like.

I was in the storm. On a ship that was surely going down. It was dark. It was painful. The waves crashed, and the rain was relentless. Pounding. Both the rain and the thunder. The storm clouds were black. The moon only shone enough that I could see its reflection on the massive swells about to crash into my ship.

This is it. This is the end.

But wait…a shift. A presence.

I felt someone gently turn me away from the eye of the storm to look behind me.

A lighthouse. High on the rocks. Pelted by rain. Waves crashing up to its shore. It stood in the darkest night, and yet:

Hope.

Light. Shining into the darkness. It was there for me. Signaling to me. It was there all along, but I was looking the wrong way.

I had to look up from the pain, the hurt, the despair, the confusion, the chaos; and there it was.

It didn’t look the prettiest. The rain was still pounding, thunder still roared, and the darkness still engulfed me.

But God. He was still holding onto me.

Hope isn’t just an idea. It’s not just a pretty word to comfort you. Hope is real, and it’s meant for you.

Ironically, I chose the middle name “Hope” for my daughter 13 years ago. I thought it was those pretty ideas – peaceful, sweet, graceful.

But life has taught me that real hope is so much more than that.

Hope is strong. It shows up in the darkest places.

It’s not the absence of struggle—it’s the presence of God in the middle of it.

It’s available. It’s steady. It’s unfailing.

Hope is His whisper in the storm, saying, “I’ve got you,” even when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.” Romans 15:13

“Where Single Moms Find Hope.” That is our slogan at MOMS Canada. Not because it sounds good, but because it’s true. No matter what storm you’re in or what problem you’re facing, there is hope.

But God. God, the source of hope. The source of light.

As Charles Stanley says, “It’s not easy, but it’s simple.”

Turn around, look away from the chaos, and look towards Him.

I’m still on the journey. The storms still rage. But I’m just grateful that my source of hope has not wavered; I only need to look over my shoulder to see the light.

“Rain came, wind blew, but my house was built on You. I’m safe with You, I’m going to make it through.” (Firm Foundation)

“We who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19

A Prayer for the Single Mom

God of hope,
For the mama in the storm, hold her steady.
Show her the light again.
Whisper to her heart that she’s not alone.
Fill her with peace, even if the rain doesn’t stop.
Anchor her soul in Your love, and remind her that You are near.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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